Has anybody else noticed how often we get crucified by the maggots for what I call "random" HTB's? The one against Matt Jones in the last was an absolute stinker. Yet it happened on MANY occasions today. And last week. And against the Crows. And in most games this season. What's even more amazing is that we NEVER get them paid our way.

I'm frustrated we could've won but it's great to see a effort every week. I'd be a little worried if I was a pies supporter. Dunn was outstanding. His body work was top notch and apart from the attempted torp he didn't do much wrong at all. Tyson is a freakin star. That goal where he tackled, snatched the ball and kicked it from outside 50 was unbelievable. We bust our nut for a goal and it takes time. Right now we need to take our chances as Port did today.

we started the game first 15 mins and finished the last 15mins the same.

promising signs. similar to the doggies game. but we need to win more games like that if we are to ever improve.

we started the game first 15 mins and finished the last 15mins the same.

promising signs. similar to the doggies game. but we need to win more games like that if we are to ever improve.

We lost and still improved.

I think its fair to say we can do a reasonable competitive thing now , which is quite an improvement ,but disappointing not to get the points.

Can we and when do we take the next step?

What's needed?

Has anybody else noticed how often we get crucified by the maggots for what I call "random" HTB's? The one against Matt Jones in the last was an absolute stinker. Yet it happened on MANY occasions today. And last week. And against the Crows. And in most games this season. What's even more amazing is that we NEVER get them paid our way.

That's a good name for them. This decision has now become a raffle and there's absolutely no rhyme or reason behind either balling it up or paying holding the ball.

Fix it up Evans, Campbell and Kennedy. The jokes well and truly over.

Wr will rue the first four goals we gave up and our bad kicking in the final quarter. A year ago I would had taken a 20 point loss to port but wr should have won that. We get in front and because we arent used to it we dont know what to do. I felt after howe took the hanger and butcheted the kick we lost it from there. But there were positives. Pederson wow what a different player to a year ago. Jetta is bettrr and I never eant to hear anymore about josh kelly. Tyson and salem answered that question today.

Holding the ball is such a simple rule to adjudicate yet umpires continually stuff it up.

Not Happy, but liked how the boys kept fighting. Tired body's with a young-ish teams, we will get better from games like this.

We still need to find a way to score more goals. While we dominated for most of the second half we should have at least another 3 or 4 goals from the play we generated. Without regular offensive pressure we cannot stop good sides from having having a sniff to steal a win. I thought there was a little timidity going forward in the last quarter. Going short too often upfield when we really should have tried to keep the ball deep in our forward line. In the end they took the game on and got rewarded for our callow mistakes.

Edited May 31, 201411 yr by america de cali

Screw the negativity around here. Port are the best team in the comp. We nearly beat them. Minus Dawes. Minus any help from the [censored] maggots yet again. 8 weeks ago most on here thought we wouldn't win a single game this year. Proud of the boys.

Tyson is an absolute star, a few tired kicks at the end doesn't change that. Salem has it. Roos is a genius. The future is bright.

Well said.

Who was subbed for Toumpas?

Who was subbed for Toumpas?

Mad max

Punished for bad decision making today. Grimes, Tyson, Watts, Terlich, Jones x 2 all made some critical errors that I can recall vividly.

As HG said we played an excellent 100 mins and won that 100 mins by 5 goals.

Unfortunately, good teams punish you for slow starts and an inability to run out games - so here we are.

Just another game next week - this isn't 'our GF' (pffft), it's just another chance to show how far we have come.

Not disappointed at all. I was disappointed against the Bulldogs.

Anyone that has watched Port all year knows that whole game was not how they want to play.

They had to play the game on our terms and they're clearly skilful enough to still win. But they had to fight bloody hard to put us away, and they had some tremendous luck that helped them get the 4 points.

We were shell shocked early and got off to the mentally hopeless starts the last seven years have given us. But we regrouped, fought back and stuck to our game plan.

Put in Chris Dawes and his regular 5 tackles and pressure and we probably could have won.

We were let down by Grimes who is just an embarrassment to Jones being co captain.

Gawn was ineffective and maybe a bad selection given that we needed run and spread against Port.

And Toumpas shouldn't be sub. A sub should be a line breaker or someone that demands the ball in space.

Jetta was excellent. So was Pedo.

Could not care less about Tyson's mistakes. He does 20 great things for 1 mistake, when we are a winning team you won't even notice his mistakes. Thought he was huge again.

Viney is every bit as good as Wines, and miles better than him today.

We're building nicely.

This is very true.

Completely agree re sub - Would prefer to see someone like Blease who is good for a goal or two and has a x factor.

Grimes lack of versatility and offensive weapons renders him almost useless to the modern game at this current time. Where's his run? Where's his bob up in the forward half to ever assist a goal?

Proud of the boys today, they really controlled that second half - it just came down to the last 5 minutes of composure, belief and a couple of mistakes at the wrong time.

COULD HAVE BEEN MASSIVE

Have to drop Grimes for next week.

would have won at the MCG

Sick of selling games

I think the losing margin would have been more if it were at the G. Port looked very fatigued late in the 1st and 2nd Quarter. In the 1st we were able to get a couple of goals back when it looked like a blow out was on the cards. We are far more accustomed to these conditions and a game full of tired players suits our game style more then a shootout. Port love to run straight through the middle and with our tendancy to turn it over Port would have beaten us by a lot more at the G.

Selling games into NT makes sense when they are on board as a sponsor. It's a 3 year deal as of now and it could lead to a very long partnership in the future. Paul Roos isn't coaching for free. The messiah still needs to get paid.

Would be interesting to see Bails stats 1st half v 2nd half, seems to start on fire then disappear.

Couldn't be more proud of our players today. A win would've been the icing on the cake but today has certainly spoken volumes about how much we've improved. We can now match it against the best. Bring on Collingwood.

Can understand being disappointed to lose, but not sure how anyone who watched that could be disappointed in the team or the club.

The turnaround in under half a season has been staggering to behold. Perhaps we should all rewatch a few games from last year, just to remind ourselves of just how far back we were, and how far we've come.

Unrecognisable.

Frawley v good today. Amongst a number of others of course.

Have to drop Grimes for next week.

You obviously have not been paying much attention to selection this year.

Need to strive to be the best.

Not disappointed, but still can point out where we could improve so we beat the best.

Next week will be interesting. I hope we can bring the same work rate.

Random thought. My Umpiring stuff-up of the day would have to be the non-call when Tommy ran down Trengove on the wing. Trengove ran the ball out of defence, got caught on the wing, dropped it in the tackle. Both players turned and looked at the umpire waiting for the HTB decision. When the umpire did nothing, Trengove picked up the ball and ran off again. I don't think anyone could believe that one, including Trengove.

What's needed is a little more composure, the addition of some class and another season into the young guys to toughen them up. Roos said against the Dogs we didm't play the full 100 minutes and the same today. We have to play out the whole game. The next step is to find some runners who are elite kicks running of half back who can deliver the ball longer into the forward line. Sydney with Shaw and Malceski or Hawks with Suckling, Gibson and Burchall. A Shannon Hurn or Brodie Smith to clear the ball out just shows what we lack down back. Terlich, Tommy mac and Grimes all worry me when they dispose of the ball as they are a turn over waiting to happen. Cannot question their courage, ball winning and endeavour but an elite kick is needed if we are to make the next step.

Edited May 31, 201411 yr by Older demon

You obviously have not been paying much attention to selection this year.

Yes, and here you go Paul - another player in need of some guidance and offensive confidence.